On the day which will see the launch of the Scottish Science Advisory Committee's first report, entitled: Why Science Education Matters, Supporting and Improving Science Education in Scottish Schools, the University of Glasgow will be playing host to a number of Advanced Higher students from around the city who are regularly benefiting from the University's laboratory facilities.

With the number of school students choosing science subjects and applying for science at universities declining across the country, the University has been looking for ways to improve the interface between school and university science. One way has seen the Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences at the University making lab space available to a group of sixth year pupils.

Jim Hamilton, tutor from Hynland Secondary School comments: "Tutors have welcomed the connection between University and the Advanced Higher Practical course, which has helped to make the transition to Higher Education less daunting. It has been excellent to see a large number of Glasgow schools benefit from this experience."

When David Lawson (Adviser for Science to Glasgow schools) proposed a route for school-university collaboration, Professor John Coggins, Dean of the Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences, arranged to look at undergraduate lab schedules to try to identify suitable space for them.

David Lawson said, " Not only has Professor Coggins' involvement facilitated accommodation for the students but it has given them an invaluable insight into the often daunting world of university study which I can only hope will encourage at least a few of them to consider further science studies at Higher Education level".

Professor Coggins was able to identify a laboratory in the Boyd Orr Building which could house the 65 pupils from 15 schools for the twelve sessions required ﾖ with minimum disruption to ongoing undergraduate classes.

Glasgow City Council Education Services have provided the schools with their equipment, consumables, technical staff and tutors and one member of Faculty technical staff is on hand throughout the two-hour session.

Professor Coggins added, " For many of the pupils, this will be their first contact with the University ﾖ let's hope it is the start of a long relationship".

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

A Media Question & Answer Session, to which you are cordially invited, will be held with members of the Committee's Science Education Working Group, at The Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22-26 George Street Edinburgh on Wednesday 19 November 10.30-11.00am. Still or TV pictures may be taken at this time.

For media inquiries, please contact: Dr Avril Davidson, Head of Secretariat, Scottish Science Advisory Committee tel. 0131 240 5000; fax: 0131 240 5034; e-mail: adavidson@scottishscience.org.uk.

The Scottish Science Advisory Committee (SSAC) is an independent Committee, established under the auspices of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) with funding from the Scottish Executive, to provide advice to Scottish Ministers on science strategy, science priorities and science policy to allow the Scottish Executive to make effective use of available scientific advice, knowledge and techniques in formulating and implementing policies to supporting the full range of its objectives. Further details can be found at: SSAC Website.

For more details please contact the University Press Officer, Mike Findlay on 0141 330-8593 or m.findlay@admin.gla.ac.uk.

First published: 19 November 2003